European mole cricket (Molidae)

Affected crops: The pest is a polyphage, causing severe damage to almost all horticultural and field crops. Potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, cucumbers, carrots, onions, as well as young seedlings of cereals, maize, and legumes during their early growth stages, are particularly susceptible to infestation.

Biology and life cycle: The life cycle of the mole cricket lasts from one to two years depending on climatic conditions. Both adults and older nymphs overwinter deep in the soil, reaching depths of up to one meter. In the spring, once the soil warms up, they move to the upper layers to begin active feeding and reproduction, laying eggs in specialized brood chambers.

Damage character and harmfulness: The primary damage is caused by both adults and nymphs. They chew through plant roots while excavating extensive horizontal tunnels in the root zone, leading to plant wilting and death. Furthermore, mole crickets destroy seeds, tubers, and root vegetables by creating large cavities inside them, rendering the harvest unsuitable for storage or market.

Protection measures: Effective control requires an integrated strategy combining agrotechnical and chemical methods. Deep autumn plowing and regular inter-row cultivation are crucial for disrupting tunnels and destroying egg clutches. Chemical control involves the use of granular insecticides applied to the soil during sowing or transplanting, as well as the strategic placement of poisoned baits near the pest's burrows.

• Deep soil tillage during the breeding season.
• Using manure traps during spring to attract and kill adults.
• Application of approved soil insecticides.
• Implementation of proper crop rotation and weed control.